15:40 Naas

Sunday 26 January 2020

All13:1013:4014:1014:4015:1015:4016:10

Naas Racecourse Of The Year Novice Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 5m 39.20s

Caravation²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: L P Dempsey| T: J P Dempsey| OR: 128| C

7/2

Off the mark at the fourth time of asking over the larger obstacles when landing a Naas mares' beginners chase earlier this month. Can continue progression on handicap debut.

Form: 10-6U31

Best Behavior²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: O McKiernan| OR: 127| C

4/1

Won at the fifth attempt for connections taking a 2m5f handicap chase at Leopardstown late last month off a 8lb lower mark beating 14 rivals 2L. Requires plenty of respect.

Form: 8-UU951

The Caddy Rose^p⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 126| D

14/1

Didn't seem to be progressing over hurdles despite two wins in that sphere, but very impressive on debut over fences when winning by an easy 4L at Navan in September. Beaten in a couple of mares' contests since but can get competitive here.

Form: 744-124

Star Max⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: O R Brown⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 132

5/1

130-rated hurdler the gelding has made a promising start to life over fences. Improvement needed but capable of a big run on handicap debut.

Form: 019-249

Victoria Bay^p²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: C Bowe| OR: 124| D

25/1

Winner of one of her six starts over fences. Promising form from the summer/autumn has appeared to level out somewhat in a couple of dismal efforts over hurdles and fences towards the end of the year. Others preferred.

Form: 252205

Stones And Roses²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 123| BF

10/1

Off the mark at just his second start over fences when landing a Cork beginners contest over 2m5f on soft ground in November. Pulled up as the beaten favourite when never recovering from a mistake four out at Limerick over Christmas.

Form: 02-521P

The Gunner Murphy^t¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 122

7/1

Generally well held and never nearer in a number of starts over fences since his debut at Gowran Park in November. Could be of interest making handicap debut 5lb lower than his mark over hurdles.

Form: 333-605

Ballyneety^t¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: N P Madden| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 119

20/1

Had some useful handicap hurdle form but has yet to gain his confidence over fences. Worth a check in the market for leading owner on handicap chase debut.

Form: 38-08F7

Uaintseenothingyet²²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Mark Walsh| T: E P Harty| OR: 114| D

4/1

Chasing career interrupted by series of absences, racing on just three occasions in the last two years. Not disgraced on return to action at Cork earlier this month but more needed in this contest.

Form: 4F/43P-5

Dasmyhoss²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 109

20/1

nine-race maiden over the larger obstacles, running well in defeat in a number of starts over fences since last month. bit more needed but enters calculations.

Form: 568402

Forecasts

Caravation (7/2), Best Behavior (4/1), Uaintseenothingyet (4/1), Star Max (5/1), The Gunner Murphy (7/1), Stones And Roses (10/1), The Caddy Rose (14/1), Dasmyhoss (20/1), Ballyneety (20/1), Victoria Bay (25/1)

The daughter of Presenting CARAVATION can improve on a solid win at Naas over 2m earlier this month. The seven-year-old got off the mark at the fourth time of asking over the larger obstacles and can continue the winning thread here ahead of the likes of Best Behaviour who won at the fifth attempt for connections taking a 2m5f handicap chase at Leopardstown late last month off a 8lb lower mark beating 14 rivals 2L. Owner J P McManus runs three in the race with The Gunner Murphy and Ballyneety worth a check in the market as post time looms. Pulled up on his most recent start at Limerick over Christmas, Stones And Roses should not be underestimated.